Cops: Teacher tried to hire hit man to kill friend

James Pepe arrested, held without bond

A feud between two teachers in a Tampa Bay-area high school social studies department led one to try to hire a hit man to kill the other, police said.

The Tampa Bay Times reported the relationship between former friends James Pepe and Robert Meredith deteriorated as they worked together at Strawberry Crest High School. The 55-year-old Pepe eventually transferred to Bloomingdale High School near Tampa, where he was arrested last week.